NASCAR

Daytona’s Lochte to give start command

Three-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Ryan Lochte will serve as grand marshal for the first of the two NASCAR Gatorade Duel qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway.

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The pair of races, scheduled for Thursday, set the starting lineup for the season-opening Daytona 500.

Lochte, who resides in Daytona Beach, won gold medals at both the Athens and Beijing Olympics. He is a 12-time Olympic and World medalist. He currently holds the world record in the 800-meter freestyle relay as part of the American team and the world record for both the 200- and the 400-meter individual medley.

Lochte will deliver the starting command for the first of the two 150-lap races.